Muni warns riders to stay smart about smart phones

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (CA) launched a new ad campaign warning Muni riders to keep an eye on their smart phones. While overall crime was down 30% over last year, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, larceny (which includes theft of smart phones, tablets, and MP3 players) was up 20%. The public service ads show customers using an iPhone and an iPad and use the tag lines, “Be smart with your smartphone” and “Thieves know an opportunity when they see it.”

“To thieves each of these devices is a target, not only on city streets, but also on public transit,” said SFMTA director of transportation Edward D. Reiskin in a statement. “We want our customers to stay safe and alert.” More than 2,000 of the ads are in place on Muni buses and light rail trains. Each of the nine Muni Metro stations also has one of the ads in place, and a coordinated message will continue to play on Muni’s subway platform displays.

About the editor

Susan Bregman is editor of The Transit Wire. She is a consultant with a focus on transit policy and planning and previously worked for the Boston Transportation Department. In 2004 she founded Oak Square Resources, LLC, which focuses on transit research, policy, and social media.